p. 8 | THEN AND NOW by T.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jul 26, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 30.

THEN AND NOW.

By T.

THE beginning of the sixteenth century marked a very dark spot in the world's history. But at the same time the people of the world, to a large extent, were professors of Christianity. The whole land was full of churches, and monasteries, and convents. The outwardly pious might be seen everywhere saying their prayers, and going through all the forms and ceremonies of what was termed Christianity. If a man was asked about his faith, his invariable reply was that he believed in and belonged to the church of Christ. But every one knows that those times were full of superstitions of every form and type. There were also the grossest vices and the darkest crimes and evils. And this, too, notwithstanding the great pretensions to Christianity that were so apparent everywhere. God did not recognize nor own the pretended Christianity of that time, but sent the Reformation to bring to light the real Christianity and thereby expose the spurious that was everywhere vaunting itself. If the world had

not received the uplifting influence of the Reformation at that time it would soon have gone to destruction. There could have been no way to avert it.

We are living in times to-day that are no less marked by Christian pretension. There is a vast throng that claim to be followers of Christ. Yet it is a notable fact that only a few of this great number are, in reality, Christians. There are no manifest marks of distinction to-day between the professed churches of Christianity and the world at large. It was not so in the days of the apostles. And it is true to-day and always has been true that the real follower of Christ presents a marked contrast to the unbelieving world.

We can look back upon the sixteenth century and very plainly see how much a reformation was needed in that time. And if our eyes are truly open, we can see that even a far mightier reformation is needed now.

God is sending His Word, with all of its sanctifying and purifying truth, into the world to save it now. He is doing this in even a more marked and marvelous manner than He did in the sixteenth century. Will we heed that Word and be Christians indeed, and consequently reformers? or will we go heedlessly on and be lost in the great destruction that is now so imminent? T.